Manufacture of inlaid linoleum floor-cloth.



No. 690,053. Patented Dec. 3|, I90l.

T. J. FLYNN.

MANUFAGTUHE OF INLAID LINOLEUM FLOOR CLOTH.

[Application led July 13, 19005- (Nu Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

/ f/f/f/ No. 690,053. Patented Dec. 3|, |90I.

T. J. F-LYNN.

MANUFAGTUBE 0F INLAID LINOLEUM FLOR CLOTH..

(Application led July 13, 1900.)

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THOMAS JAMES FLYNN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS POTTER, SONS da COMPANY PENNSYLVANIA.

, INCORPORATED, OF PHILADELPHIA,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,053, dated December 31, 1901.

Application filed Iuly I3, 1900.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS JAMES FLYNN, a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania,have

invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Inlaid Linoleum Floor-Cloth, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprises improvements 1o having as their objects the reduction of the cost of manufacture by a simplified andrapid mode of operation through which the vari-` ously-colored tesserae required to form the design may be given a granite-like appear- Ig ance and a pattern of perfect symmetry with clearlydefined lines between the tesserae may be formed in contrast to the former irregular blending of the 'variously-colored tesserae. These ends are attained by pressing zo linoleum composition of the various colors required for the design in molds adapted for the independent formation of tesserze of perfect symmetry and sufficient density tobe readily handled. The shapes thus molded,

independently of the operation of securing them to the backing, may be given a degree of symmetry which insures their perfect registration When assembled in forming the design, and the final pressure employed for se` 3o curing their attachment to the backing expands them sufficiently to form fine straight lines of juncture Without blending.

In practicing the invention the molded tes serre may be arranged upon the backing either by hand, by means of templets, or the plungers employed for consolidating the composition into tessarze may be used to eiect their removal from the molds and their attachment to the canvas backing. By securing greater 4o adhesive force between the molded tesserze and the plungers employed in forming them than exists between the tesserze and the moldcells in which they are formed the tessarze are readily removed from the molds by the withdrawal of the plungers to which they adhere and may be directly transferred in proper order and attached to the backing by means of the plungers. I have found that the operation of withdrawing the resserre Serial No. 23,531. (No modela from the molds may be effected by employ- 5o ing plungers with zinc faces and molds with oiled or very smooth surfaces. The withdrawal of the tesserae from the molds may be effected otherwise, as by means of plungers having roughened surfaces or surfaces having small pins projecting therefrom.

The accompanying drawings illustrate mechanism adapted for practicing my improvements, in which- Figure l is a transverse sectioualelevation 6o of a molding device. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on the line a ct of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on thelineb b of Fig.

l. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a form of the product. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sec- 65 tional elevation illustrating further apparatus for the practice of the invention; and Fig. G isa plan view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 5, part being shown in lsection, taken on the line c c thereof.

The mode of operation, as illustrated by Figs. l to 4, inclusive, comprises charging linoleum composition, preferably granulated and Avariegated by mixing, into a moldingbox l, containing the molding-frame 2, hav- 75.

ing its face divided into cells 3, the box providing sufficient space for receiving the quantity of loose composition required for filling the cells andforming the tesserze when consolidated by the action of the plunger 4. T0 8o permit the ready withdrawal of the consolidated tesserze from the cells and to facilitate the construction of the design upon the backing to which they are finally attached, the cells are preferably inverted pyramidal frustra in contour; but this is not essential to the operation. The composition having been consolidated and formed into tessere Within the cells 3, (as by the use of hydraulic jacks, as 5, having a platen 6, which force the mold 9o upward against the plunger et held by the press head 7,) the mold and plunger are moved along the track 8 upon the wheels 9, secured to the frame, until clear of the press. The plunger is then lifted out of the molding- 95 boX by means of the bosses lO thereon, and the shapes adhering to the face 11 thereof are removed from the cells thereby. These tesdated into tesserze by means of the plungers Vcate parts.

14, the mold being forced upward by jacks, such as 15, against the plungers, whose body 16 impinges against and is held by the pressheads 17. The tesserae having been formed and the jacks lowered, thus lowering the mold, the tesserze are Withdrawn from the cells by adhering to the faces 18 of the plungers,which are prevented from Vfalling by the wheels 19 on the body thereof, which rest upon the track 20. These plungers, with the tesserae adhering thereto, may now be moved forward upon the track to a definite position under the pressheads 21 and over the platen 22, elevated by jacks, as 23. The canvas backing 24, drawn from the rollV 25 over the roller 2G and between the platen and the plungers, receives the tesserae, which are caused to adhere thereto by forcing the platen 22 upward through the action of the jacks upon which it is supported. lVhen the platenis lowered, the tesserae composition having penetrated the meshes of the canvas has greater adhesion therefor than for the plungers, from which they may now be separated while continuing to adhere to the canvas. The canvas, withl the ground-figure of the design fixed thereon, may now be moved forward upon the table 27, where the remaining figures may be filled in manually; but all of the figures of the del sign may be placed upon the backing mechan ically by duplicating the molds and plungers shown, with such changes in form as the various shapes require and by lengthening the track to permit the operation of such dupli- The tesscree forming thecomplete design having been arranged upon the backing section by section, as described, they are finally consolidated by passing them between the press-head 28 and the platen 29, operated by jacks, as 30.

cedos It will be understood that the mechanism which lhave illustrated and described may be varied or supplemented by additional mechanism without departing from the principle of my invention-as, for instance, the employment of a stationary mold l2 and a stationary platen 22 for coperation with any Suitable means for moving the plungers 14 vertically in the operation of consolidating the composition within the mold and of fixing the tesserze upon the backing.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The mode of making inlaid linoleum floorcloth which consists in moldinglinoleum composition into independent tesserze, subsequently arranging said molded tesserae upon a woven backing, and finally pressing said tesserae upon said backing until the composition penetrates the meshes of said backing, substantially as specified.

2. The mode of makinginlaid linoleum iioor cloth which consists iu molding granulated linoleum composition into-independent tesserze of clearly-defined outline and of sufficient density to permit them to be handled, then arranging said tesserze upon abacking, and finally pressing said tesserze upon said backing, substantially as specified.

3. The mode of makinginlaid linoleum licor; cloth which consists in mixing different colors of granulated linoleum composition, molding said mixed granulated composition intoindependent tesserae of clearly-defined outline and of sufficient density to permit them to be handled, arranging said tesserze upon a backing,

and finally pressing lsaid tesserae upon said v backing, substantially as speciied. i

n 4. The mode of making inlaid linoleum floorL cloth which consists in moldingadhesive linoleum composition into independent tesserae,

transposing said tesserze to a backing by means of their adhesive condition, and finally pressing said tesserae upon said backing, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 10th day of July, 1900, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS JAMES FLYNN.

CHARLES N. BUTLER, JOHN THIEL. 

